"Te Matapunenga sets out the terms and concepts of Maori customary law as they are recorded in traditional Maori accounts and historical records, along with modern interpretations of the terms and concepts, the contexts for their cited uses, etymological information, regional differences, and the manner in which customary concepts have been recognised or modified by the legislative and judicial branches of the New Zealand government since 1840. It provides an authoritative point of reference for those wishing to engage in the ongoing public discourse on the future shape of the legal system of our country"--Publisher information.